There is no question this week is going to be a hot one, as temperatures reach into the high 90s and perhaps even 100 degrees. As many people crank up the power and seek an air conditioned refuge away from the heat, Seattle City Light--here's their energy-saving tips to beat the heat--warns that their old equipment may fail as temperatures climb. Customers need to be prepared for potential outages. Grrreat. more ›

BLOCK PARTY: Yep, it's this weekend. Jesus Lizard, Sonic Youth, yadda, yadda, yadda. It's a big deal, go watch a concert in the street. Changes to the layout of the party are being hyped as solving the extended misery problem that virtually everyone who's ever been to the Block Party over the last couple years has complained about, so please some let us know if you can actually move once you're on the inside. Fri. doors 3 p.m., Sat. doors 1 p.m. // Capitol Hill Block Party // 12th Ave. & E. Pike St. // tix $23 per day, $42 for both more ›

Just added to this summer's already stellar Concerts at Marymoor Park lineup is the Flaming Lips, bringing their psychedelic grandfatherly magic to Redmond Friday, August 21 at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $36.50 and go on sale via Ticketmaster and Live Nation next Saturday (June 20) at 10 a.m. more ›

Every music cliche could be used right now to describe--but we won't--the financial state of the ailing Bellevue Philharmonic, who was nearly forced to perform their very last show--for good. The donations were not coming in, forcing the hands of the philharmonic to seek any and all options that would prevent the loss of tradition and musical expression for the city. It was then, when the Bellevue City Council came forward, check in hand for $35,000 to help save the Bellevue Philharmonic, giving them a bailout another season of songs. This Sunday, the Bellevue Philharmonic will be playing their season finale concert and hoping that it really won't be their last. more ›

To tunnel or not to tunnel under downtown Bellevue is the big question for leaders facing the anticipated light-rail expansion. Last fall voters approved building surface line tracks, but since then the Bellevue city council has tossed in two additional light-rail options that just so happen to include building a $600-millon tunnel under downtown Bellevue. Heated discussions have ensued. Now Microsoft is getting involved, pushing for the voter-approved surface tracks which would allow for a quicker install and could possibly extend the tracks farther east. (Hmmm, Redmond maybe?) Haven't we realized yet that making light-rail (or any transit) decisions really isn't our strongest suit? Right now, too many three options are currently on the table, and the transit-board members will vote May 14 for the best option to begin their environmental-impact studies. Let the chaos begin.
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Fredy Montero, the Sounders FC forward who won Seattle's affections last month for helping our new MLS team stay undefeated for our first two games, is probably going to be under formal investigation for an alleged sexual assault and consequent stalking incident involving a 23-year-old woman on the Eastside. Though the Bellevue Police Department won't name names about the subject of their investigations until they've filed charges, SeattlePI.com did get a confirmation that the woman called BPD with her allegations about Montero. Yikes--this one came out of the blue! The Sounders say they fully expect the player to be on the field with the team for this weekend's next week's game. more ›

A suggestion for a cultural outing tonight, assuming that the Eastside is convenient or alluring: John Nauman's piano recital, the second installment of the Bellevue Philharmonic Steinway Series. more ›

By a 2-to-1 ratio, area residents have expressed support for using tolls to help fund the 520 Bridge replacement. This according to survey results provided in an e-mail release today by the state-created 520 Tolling Implementation Committee. more ›

While our region was rapt (wrapped?) in chilly, snow-encrusted euphoria over the weekend, hundreds of runners had their holiday spirit abruptly thawed in downtown Kirkland on Sunday morning. The 6th annual "12Ks of Christmas" road races were canceled Sunday due to "ice-related safety conditions," leaving all those who had entered the 12K and 5K runs to wonder whether they should complain or just head for breakfast. If management had told the fleece-clad harriers that they weren't planning to refund their entry fees (which were as high as $40), we are guessing there would have been more complaining and less breakfasting yesterday morning. Forty bucks will get you a bitchin' side of bacon, after all. more ›

The Municipal League of King County have judged Metro and found its bus service wanting. For one thing, Metro is too expensive: "Metro's total bus operating costs grew 42 percent from 2000 to 2007, though bus-service hours increased just 8 percent." And for another, its allocation of services seems more politically based than real-world: in short, "Buses should be deployed based on where people travel." more ›

A while back, we mentioned that Trace Lofts on 12th Ave would soon be home to the unfortunately named "Mexican-inspired" restaurant Barrio. Well, don't worry Eastside, you're getting a ghetto too! Purple Cafe and Wine Bar owners Larry and Tabitha Kurofsky have announced that they'll be opening a second Barrio in downtown Bellevue sometime next year. more ›

Bell Square, you have generously offered abundant retail and restaurant options to two entire generations now. We remember back when you still housed the Bon Marche, back when we could still get chicken pot pie at Marie Callender's; our parents remember you back when Nordstrom was known best for shoes and a body could still shop at Frederick & Nelson. In middle school, you more than clothed us: you entertained us. And in our twenties, you more than entertained us: you employed us. Happy 62nd birthday! We hope the Freeman family is proud and maybe even buys another car, or something, to celebrate the passing of another super-successful year of shopping. more ›

Seattlest Brad has zero inclination to pursue a career as a music reviewer. But because our editor is so nice when she's arm-twisty, here goes: more ›

We love a good drink special, so imagine our delight when we came across a full-page ad in the Weekly for a big ol' happy hour next Wednesday. more ›

The Eastside Ben & Jerry’s has a conundrum. The downtown Kirkland development of Lake Street Place is forcing the store to vacate its waterfront location during the upcoming summer months. This puts an obvious damper in the store’s business plan. On numerous summer days, we have walked past a long line of ice cream addicts salivating out the Ben & Jerry’s door. more ›

Corteo is one of the most dynamic and creative artistic exploits of body movement that you can see in the United States. You can still buy tickets here and performances continue until May 4 at Marymoor Park in Redmond. more ›

In January, Governor Gregoire announced her support to toll the 520 bridge. Today, Gregoire announced lawmakers have approved the aggressive strategy to toll the 520 bridge to help finance the cost of building a new floating bridge across Lake Washington. The toll amounts have not been finalized. The new bridge will cost $4 billion, and commuters will pay for half. According to the Seattle Times, the toll could be as much as $7 each way during rush hour. The idea is good—we need a new bridge. more ›

The Puget Sound area boasts a blossoming theatre and art culture with a variety of up-and-coming artists. It keeps us very busy, and this weekend is no exception, when Seattle Opera’s talented Young Artists are presenting Puccini's Gianni Schicchi and Ravel's Enchanted Child. The two one-act productions open this evening at the Theatre at Meydenbauer Center in downtown Bellevue. more ›

It's an election year, which means it's time again for Democrats in this part of Western Washington to get all excited about the opportunity to flip the 8th Congressional District into our column. That's right. For the next few months, we will be told to believe that the Eastside district's trend toward a more liberal stance will be completed this year and that this time, Microsoft Millionaire Darcy Burner will actually beat Rep. Dave "I'm the sheriff that caught the Green River Killer single-handedly" Reichert. more ›

From the buzz circulating the budding career of Josh Blue, we thought his Saturday evening performance at the Kirkland Performance Center would be full of self-deprecating and occasionally awkward humor. It was not. more ›

Evergreen State College alumni and fourth-season winner of Last Comic Standing, Josh Blue is coming to the Kirkland Performance Center (KPC) this Saturday. We're looking forward to an evening of self-deprecating humor, as Blue’s comedy stems from his personal experiences of living with cerebral palsy. Blue hopes to dispel stereotypical myths about the "disabled" through stand-up comedy and what he calls "reverse teasing." (His comedy routine is not recommended for children under 16 years old, by the way.) more ›

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It was a week of bizarre, embarassing headlines at DCist. The trial of the local administrative law judge who sued his cleaners for $54 million over a pair of missing pants left everyone shaking their heads. Then the capital city was nearly brought to its knees, twice, by poop. Finally D.C. contemplated taking Vermont's place as a state and marveled at the GOP lessons learned from the "Macaca Moment." more ›

Sunday. Usually, a quiet, contemplative day in the Blogosphere. But not here in the Ist-a-Verse. Nonono! Just look below and see all of the wild and crazy stuff our staffs are up to. more ›

The man who shot Nicole duFresne on New York's Lower East Side was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole this week. Nicole made a name for herself in Seattle's theatre community before doing what promising artists tend to do when they feel they've outgrown Seattle. She moved to New York. There she worked as an actress and a waitress until one night she, along with her finace and some friends, came in contact with Rudy Flemming and some of his friends who were seething after a few failed muggings. Nicole challenged Flemming by saying, "What are you going to do, shoot us?" She died at the scene in the arms of her fiance Jeffery Sparks. more ›

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Celebrate Ben Franklin's 300th birthday with the Bikini Bandits and Phillyist! (NSFW). Speaking of Mr. Franklin, send in a picture of Ben (or Ed Rendell) with a red tongue and win a free t-shirt. And they might have the next YearlyKos in Philly. more ›

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Gothamist has some words on the statements being released in connection with the murder of Seattle actor and playwright Nicole duFresne in NYC. There's actually some decent reading in the comments of that post (as opposed to the comments under most Gothamist posts relating to duFresne). more ›